It’s Spring Break for most of the schools in our area. Frankly, I’m jealous. 

Do you remember those days when Spring Break came? You’d get to take a break from the regular, boring routine of school and get to do something fun? My family never took trips over Spring Break, but I knew lots of folks that did. When I got to college most of my friends would leave from snowbound South Bend, IN and head to warmer climates to enjoy the fun and sun.

Even though I didn’t travel, it was a respite from the regular routine, and I usually felt pretty refreshed when I got back to school. At least that’s how I remember it. 

As a parent, Spring Break poses a set of challenges like no other. It’s not long enough to get into a regular routine. The kids are home, and often grumpy or bored. Heck, we ran into that with Hectic Grandson last night. As if his being bored is my problem. OK, in a way it is, because I want him to be happy, but as his Mom pointed out…fixing bored is his issue, not ours. If you plan too much during a Spring Break, the kids are exhausted. If you don’t plan enough, they’re restless. Either way, you can easily run yourself ragged trying to make it a fun time. 

And then when the break is over, you’re ready to collapse. Am I right? 

Wouldn’t it be cool if we, as parents and grandparents, got to take a break too? A nice long vacation somewhere warm. Someplace where we could do whatever we wanted. Where we could let boredom seep in, knowing that there was nothing pressing to do? Can you imagine that? Honestly, I have a difficulty conceiving of it, I’m always going so hard. 

So when I heard about the idea of putting yourself in timeout I immediately gravitated to it. 

Let’s face it, a week on a sunny shore isn’t likely to happen. Even a day away from all life’s responsibilities is pretty hard to come by. But what about half-an-hour? Could you spare that? While it might create some chaos elsewhere in your life, will it really be all that different if you take the time or you don’t? 

Yeah, I didn’t think so. 

So what about finding a quiet place in your house for a timeout. Someplace where you could go and unwind for 30 minutes. Not to take a nap (although that might be glorious too), but to simply step back from all the hectic activity of life and just sit. 

My millennial kids would say they’re mediating. Maybe that’s what I’m talking about, I dunno. I haven’t had time to start a meditation practice, although it’s on my someday-maybe list. 

I’m not talking about anything as monumental as meditating. I’m talking about chilling. Sitting there and not doing anything. No list making. No planning, forecasting, or worrying. Simply taking a few minutes to just be. 

Sure, it sounds a bit New Age. It’s hard to imagine taking time out of a busy day and dedicating it to doing nothing. But our lives should be more like outer space, shouldn’t they be? I mean, periods (or places) of activity, surrounded by lots and lots of open space. 

OK, so that might be taking things a bit too far, but you get what I mean. Try to conceive of not filling every second with something that you have to accomplish. Imagine having a few minutes to yourself to do nothing. To just enjoy the fact that you’re, well, you. 

Heck, I’ve done a couple of these since I discovered the concept, and honestly I’ve found that I appreciate the people around me a lot more. I’m not sure why that is, but rather than focusing on all the things that my family does to drive me crazy, I’ve discovered they’re pretty cool to have around. 

So my advice for today: Put Yourself In Timeout!